Broadband Advisor

In an effort to ramp up its channel activity, ASX-listed ISP, iiNet (ASX: IIN), will launch an online reseller portal on November 11.

General business manager, Andy McIntyre, said the company was gaining good traction in its business sector and had established a support group. Over the last six months, it has also been working towards launching new additions to its product portfolio including SIP trunking, VPN and VoIP services.

“People are beginning to understand that iiNet is not just a residential player, we’re doing business as well,” he said. “We’re focused on the SMB market with up to 50 users and we’re not looking at the enterprise or corporate markets.

“SMBs haven't been looked after very well and we believe that we can give them the support they deserve.”

Through the portal resellers can order services, access marketing materials, and view customer histories, contracts and invoices.

In May, iiNet acquired Westnet, which has a 1300-strong reseller network, McIntyre said.

“We’ve been working with them and leveraging from their experience and understanding the best way to approach the channel,” he said. “We have been learning from them in terms of what partners are looking for.”

iiNet has also appointed Austin Sandell as a channel manager. He previously spent four years within the organisation as its customer service manager.

“We’re really putting focus into our channel,” McIntyre said. “Austin’s heading the channel up, there’s also our business team that will help him out with reseller support.”

iiNet has about 100 active resellers in the market. McIntyre said he would be looking to rapidly grow that figure to 500 and was looking for more service integrators.